The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

She winked.
    Oh, Granny . The woman was addicted to checking out men, especially Tongan men who reminded her of her second husband, Hubba Bubba. Beck chuckled and Alyssa loved the deep, mellow sound of it. It was such a relief he seemed to be enjoying her grandmother. Some people got offended by Granny, but Alyssa just loved her.
    “I hate to have you go alone,” Alyssa protested feebly. She did want to be with Granny, but Beck was so intriguing. They were in a very public place so she could get to know him without breaking her rule of not being alone with a man she didn’t know. It was perfect, but should she really let Granny go alone? They hadn’t even had a chance to talk and Alyssa didn’t know how Granny’s health was faring.
    Granny waved her off. “I’ll bring back ice cream. What’s your flavor?” she asked Beck.
    “Anything that has fruit or nuts.”
    “Did he just say I’m fruity and nuts?” Ellie winked at Alyssa.
    Beck laughed and leaned back against the cushioned chair.
    “I know your flavor,” Granny said to Alyssa, “Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate.”
    “Some things never change.” It meant so much that Granny did know. If someone asked one of Alyssa’s parents they’d probably be shocked she dared eat fattening ice cream. Her mom worked most of her life to keep her girlish figure and try to keep her dad interested and her dad only thought of women as objects who had to look perfect to be worthwhile.
    Granny waved and toddled off. Alyssa was saddened to notice how slow she moved. Maybe she was just worn out from the plane ride. Granny had been such a wonderful part of Alyssa’s life, she hoped she’d have years before Granny passed away and left her behind.
    “Ellie’s great,” Beck said.
    “She’s been there for me through a lot.” Alyssa realized she didn’t want to explain that one if he asked so she hurried on, “She always makes me laugh. Sorry about the cougar comment.”
    “I didn’t know whether to laugh or run.” He winked.
    Alyssa’s throat went dry. Did she tell him thank you for not running and beg him to never run from them? Wow. She was getting more than a little ahead of herself, but that wink and the sensual look in those blue eyes had her head spinning.
    They sat in silence for a few minutes, listening to the waves break and watching two little boys pack sand into a lopsided castle. Several groups of whales spouted off the nearby coastline of Lanai then dove and waved goodbye with their tails.
    “What was Ellie saying about how talented you are?” Beck asked.
    “Granny likes to brag about me. I’m not that talented. Do you want to walk down and test the water?”
    “Um, sure.” His face filled with confusion, but he didn’t question her further. She really didn’t want to tell him she was a photographer, not yet.
    They both stood. She untied her sarong and sat it on the chair while he slipped off his flip-flops. She looked at his t-shirt and caught him glancing at her shoes at the same time.
    “Do you want to get your shoes wet?”
    She took a deep breath. “Do you want your t-shirt soggy?”
    He inhaled sharply then smiled. His ruggedly handsome face made her lean against the lounge for support.
    “I’ll take off my t-shirt if you take off your shoes.”
    She studied him for a second, sensing he was as uncomfortable taking off his t-shirt as she was removing her shoes and socks. Finally, she nodded. “On the count of three.”
    His smile grew. “One, two, three.”
    She bent down and unlaced her shoes while he tugged his shirt over his head and dropped it on his chair. She paused to look up, gasping at the breadth and sculpture of his chest, shoulders, and arms. “Did hockey do that to you?”
    Oh, crap! He’d never told her he played hockey. She needed to remember what info he’d actually told her and what she knew from Maryn’s files.
    He pointed to several vicious scars on his chest and abdomen. “Yep.”
    “Oh, I didn’t